Hulk Hogan wins big in sex tape court battle

By Drum Digital

19 March 2016

Former wrestler-turned-film and TV star Hulk Hogan is $115 million (GBP79.4 million) richer after winning his legal spat over a sex tape.

A jury awarded him the cash windfall in the case he brought forth against corporation Gawker Media after editors at the online news outlet published footage from a sex tape featuring Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, reports TMZ.

Hogan sued for $100 million (GBP69 million) but the jurors decided that wasn't enough, and they added $15 million (GBP10.4 million).

Hogan came away from court in Tampa, Florida on Friday (18Mar16) with $55 million (GBP38 million) for economic injuries and $60 million (GBP41.4 million) for emotional distress.

In his suit, the athlete and television personality claimed he was clueless about being recorded while having sex with a friend's wife at their home in Florida back in 2007.

Gawker bosses published almost two minutes of the lewd video without Hulk's permission.

It took the jurors close to six hours to decide whether the media company had violated Hogan’s privacy by publishing the sex tape clip in 2012.

Hogan had sued the company, its founder Nick Denton and ex-editor A.J. Daulerio.

And he could be set for even more money as the trial moves on to the punitive damages phase.